Drop-leaf table with pivoted support legs



Dec. 7, 1954 H. J. STEDMAN 2,696,416

DROP-LEAF TABLE WITH PIVOTED SUPPORT LEGS Filed Feb. 6, 1953 INVENTOR.HENEY J. STEP/144M United States Patent O DROP-LEAF TABLE WITH PIVOTEDSUPPORT LEGS Henry J. Stedman, Peoria, Ill.

Application February 6, 1953, Serial No. 335,463

1 Claim. (Cl. 311-63) This invention relates to drop leaf tables havingmovable, leaf supporting legs, and more particularly to an improvedunder frame construction for such table.

it is among the objects of the invention to provide an improved dropleaf table which has an under frame of improved and simplifiedconstruction which places the leg carrying members of the frame atlocations spaced from diametrical or transverse center lines of thetable, so that persons can be seated comfortably at the table withoutinterference with the table legs; which firmly supports the legs ineither their leaf extending or leaf folding position; and which issimple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture, andeffective and efiicient in use.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a considerationof the following description and the appended claim in conjunction withthe accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a bottom plan of a drop leaf table illustrative of theinvention with the table leaves in extended position;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the table with the table leavesin extended position as illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view similar to Figure 2, but with thetable rotated through an angle of approximately 90 degrees from theposition shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the table with the leaves in foldedposition; and

Figure 5 is an end elevational view of the table with the leaves infolded position depending from the table top.

With continued reference to the drawing, the table comprises a top ofelongated shape having straight, parallel side edges 11 and 12, andextension leaves 13 and 14 extending each at one edge along acorresponding side edge of the top 10 and hinged to the top by hinges,as indicated at 15 and 16 for the leaf 13, and 17 and 18 for the leaf14. The table top and leaf combination with the leaves extended isillustrated as of circular shape, but it is to be understood that thetable may be of other shapes, such as square or rectangular, if desired,without in any way exceeding the scope of the invention.

An under frame, generally indicated at 20, is secured to the under sideof the table top 10 and is formed of wooden members or boards ofelongated, rectangular cross sectional shape each having one edgedisposed against and secured to the under surface of the table top 10and extending downwardly perpendicularly from the table top. This underframe includes an intermediate cross member or bar 21 which extendstransversely across the table top 10 at the mid-length location of thetable top and end cross members or bars 22 and 23 which extendtransversely of the table top near the respectively opposite ends of thetop. A first side member or bar 24 extends from a location near one endof the end cross member 22 spaced from and parallel to the side edge 11of the table top to the adjacent end of the intermediate cross member orbar and carried by said bar 24 is an extension 24' which extends beyondand is secured to the intermediate cross member 21. A second side memberor bar 25 extends from a location near the end of the end cross member23 at the side of the table top remote from the side member 24 to theadjacent end of the intermediate cross member 21 and carried by saidside member or bar 25 is an extension 25' which extends beyond theintermediate cross member 21 and is secured to the adjacent end of theintermediate cross bar 21. A third side member to 2,696,413 PatentedDec. 7 1954 26 extends from the intermediate cross member 21 to the endof the end cross member 23 nearest the side edge 11 of the table top andis disposed parallel to the side edge 11, but spaced from this side edgea distance greater by approximately one half the thickness of the upperend portions of the table legs than the distance from the side edge 11to the outer side of the first side member 24. A fourth side member 27extends from the intermediate cross member 21 to the end of the endcross member 22 nearest the side edge -12 of the table and is disposedparallel to the side edge 12, but spaced from this side edge a distanceequal to the spacing between the third side member'26 and the side edge11 of the table top. The side members are disposed perpendicular to thecross members and the side and cross members together constitute anunder frame of elongated, substantially rectangular shape secured to theunder surface of the table top 10.

An angle brace 28 is secured in the corner at the juncture of the endcross member 22 and the fourth side member 27 and a first table leg 29is rigidly secured to the under frame at the corner of the frameconstituted by the approximate juncture of the end cross member 22 withthe first side member 24, the leg 29 being disposed perpendicular to thetable top 10. An angle brace 30 is secured in the corner provided by thejuncture of the end cross member 23 with the third side member 26 and asecond table leg 31 is rigidly secured to the under frame at the cornerof the frame constituted by the approximate juncture of the end crossmember 23 and the second side member 25 and is disposed perpendicular tothe table top 10. Thus the stationary table legs 29 and 31 are carriedby the table top 10 and extend vertically downwardly therefrom adjacentdiagonally opposite corners thereof.

A first leg carrying arm or wing 32 is hingedly secured at one end tothe end of the extension 24 of the under frame at the end of this sidemember remote from the leg 29, and a third leg'33 is secured to the arm32 at the distal end of this arm. The arm 32 is swingable about an axisperpendicular to the table top 10 in an arcuate path therebeneath andhas a length substantially equal to the distance from the end crossmember 23 to the extension 24.

A second leg carrying arm or wing 35 is hingedly secured at one end tothe extension 25 for swinging movement in an arcuate path beneath thetable top 10 and a fourth table leg 36 is secured to the arm 35 at thedistal end of this arm and thereof for movement therewith in an arcuatepath beneath the table top 10. The arm 35 has a length substantiallyequal to the distance from the end cross member 22 to the adjacent endof the second side member 25, so that when the table leaves 13 and 14are in folded condition, as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the leg 33will be disposed against the adjacent end of the end cross member 23 andthe leg 36 will be disposed against the adjacent end of the end crossmember 22. When the table leaves are extended horizontally outwardlyfrom the table top, as illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the arms orwings 32 and 35 are swung in their arcuate paths until they are disposedbeneath the leaves and lie substantially perpendicular to the side edgesof the table top 10. Such movement is restricted to such a perpendicularposition by suitable stops 38 and 39 secured to the under sides of theleaves 13 and 14 respectively. When the legs 33 and 36 are in tablesupporting position, they are spaced from the diametrical center line ofthe table which extends midway between and parallel to the arms 32 and35, so that persons can be seated at opposite sides of the table in linewith this diametrical center line without interference with the tablelegs 33 and 36. The legs 29 and 31 are also displaced to respectivelyopposite sides of a diametrical center line of the table perpendicularto the center line parallel to the arms 32 and 35, so that persons canbe seated at the respectively opposite ends of the talzilesiop 10without interference with the table legs 29 an The improved under frameconstruction thus provides more convenient seating of persons at thetable and also provides an under frame of increased strength andrigidity which holds the leaf supporting legs firmly in position toleaves are in extended position.

The invention may beernbodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential character'- istics thereof. The presentembodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claimsirather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claim are, therefore, intended to betembracedtherein;

What is claimed is:

A drop leaf table comprising, an elongated tabletop, leaves hinged tothe table top for movement in vertical arcuate paths adjacent oppositesides thereof,.legs fixed to the table top and extending verticallydownwardly therefrom adjacent diagonally opposite corners thereof, sidemembers fixed to the table top and to the-fixed legs and extendinglongitudinally along the underside and parallelwith opposite side edgesthereof, arms carried by the side members for movement in horizontalarcuate paths on Opposite sides of a transverse axis which extendsperpendicularly across the table top, midway between opposite endsthereof from inactive positions in which they lie beneath and parallelto the table top to active positions inwhichrthey lie on opposite sidesof. the axis and perpendicular to the table top beneath the leaves,carried by the arms and extending perpendicularly downwardly therefromfor movement therewith from inactive positions in which they extenddownwardly beneath the table top to active positions in which theyextend downwardly beneath the leaves.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 164,976 Cutler June 29, 1875 170,515 Bradfield Nov. 30, 1875185,219 Cutler Dec. 12, 1876 293,565 Conover Feb. 12, 1884 1,516,323Bilton Nov. 18, 1924 FOREIGN PATENTS Number I Country Date 336,170 GreatBritain Oct. 9, 1930

